I lost my Sultan cockerel yesterday; 2 days ago I noticed bloody mucousy stools & yesterday my little guy was "down" - I offered him water, which he drank, but he didn't rally, so I took him to the vet & he had a temp of 104, fecal float (-). He was injected with banamine & a couple of antibiotics, when I got home & took him out of the car he convulsed & died in my arms. I feel so bad.
Now I'm really concerned about my others - I have been adding Corid to the drinking water (10cc/gal. new daily) - I found 2 mucousy stools today, my others are more docile than normal but are up, eating (but not as enthusiastically) & drinking. It's also interesting that my others are hanging around me more today - I held their brother yesterday while he was sick & they were very concerned then - now it seems they're looking to me for "where'd he go?" & being more clucky-vocal. I love how we're bonding, but very worried that I'll lose them, too.
Okay - I know these are chickens and they're not supposed to be smart, but these Sultans seem to be different.
I'm looking for help here - it's my responsibility to provide a healthy environment. I pick out the coop & pen daily, fresh water daily, feed (packaged chicken feed to include calf manna supplement) fresh morning & afternoon. I bed with packaged pine shavings . I read that coccidiosis can manifest in dirt - I draped the outdoor pen with a plastic tarp, covered with pine shavings & "play sand" from Ace Hardware. Also include packaged "grit" with their environment - I scatter it around in their pen.
Also, the chickens have outside time daily - they're not cooped up all day long. Mavis runs around more, takes her dirt baths, eats bugs.. the newbies are more into discovering but not as aggressively so.
I am open to all suggestions and criticism - I want to get this chicken thing right.
Thanks
Mavis Mom, Sturgeon Bay, WI
PS - Mavis is fine. She is a scrappy little gal & not looking ill, still producing daily eggs, although she, too, hangs around me more to see what's wrong.
Now I'm really concerned about my others - I have been adding Corid to the drinking water (10cc/gal. new daily) - I found 2 mucousy stools today, my others are more docile than normal but are up, eating (but not as enthusiastically) & drinking. It's also interesting that my others are hanging around me more today - I held their brother yesterday while he was sick & they were very concerned then - now it seems they're looking to me for "where'd he go?" & being more clucky-vocal. I love how we're bonding, but very worried that I'll lose them, too.
Okay - I know these are chickens and they're not supposed to be smart, but these Sultans seem to be different.
I'm looking for help here - it's my responsibility to provide a healthy environment. I pick out the coop & pen daily, fresh water daily, feed (packaged chicken feed to include calf manna supplement) fresh morning & afternoon. I bed with packaged pine shavings . I read that coccidiosis can manifest in dirt - I draped the outdoor pen with a plastic tarp, covered with pine shavings & "play sand" from Ace Hardware. Also include packaged "grit" with their environment - I scatter it around in their pen.
Also, the chickens have outside time daily - they're not cooped up all day long. Mavis runs around more, takes her dirt baths, eats bugs.. the newbies are more into discovering but not as aggressively so.
I am open to all suggestions and criticism - I want to get this chicken thing right.
Thanks
Mavis Mom, Sturgeon Bay, WI
PS - Mavis is fine. She is a scrappy little gal & not looking ill, still producing daily eggs, although she, too, hangs around me more to see what's wrong.
